Sandip Sahota
Founder

A recognized leader in the data and analytics space in both the American and Canadian financial services sectors, Sandip Sahota recently founded his own firm, Crosswinds Advisors to bring his expertise and a bespoke experience to clients of all sizes and sectors.

Prior to founding Crosswinds Advisors, Sandip was the Enterprise Chief Data and Analytics Officer (e-CDAO/SVP) for BMO Financial Group (Toronto), where he was also a member of BMO’s Technology and Operations Executive Committee.

Prior to BMO, Sandip was the Head of Data and Solutions/MD at the Bank of New York Mellon (NYC), and the Head of Enterprise Data and Services/MD at CPP Investments (Toronto) after holding progressive leadership roles at Morgan Stanley (NYC) for 15-years.

Sandip is an award-winning leader, having received Informatica’s 2022 CDO Award recognizing data-driven leaders who have a profound impact on their organization’s data culture, digital transformation, and business outcomes. He is a sought-after keynote speaker and thought leader, featured in publications such as Fintech Magazine and CDO Magazine and he is a nominated/selected member of the World 50 for Data and Analytics.

Sandip also sits on the advisory board for AltHub, an AI-driven Data & Analytics company that unlocks the power of alternative data to help investment professionals gain insights and establish an investing edge.

A life-long learning enthusiast, Sandip is currently pursuing an Executive MBA via the joint Global program with the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University (USA) and Schulich School of Business at York University (Canada). He holds a Bachelor of Science in Management Information Systems and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of Tampa.

Sandip is married and has a son, daughter and two dogs. He spends his spare time on the golf course, doing homework, cheering on his daughter’s field hockey team and his beloved soccer club, traveling, reading non-fiction, and revving up the BBQ.

Chris Mendes
Partner

Chris Mendes is an award-winning technology executive that brings over 17 years of progressive IT leadership with expertise in data, analytics, AI, and robotics.  Most recently Chris served as Chief Information Officer for Data & Analytics at BMO Financial Group, where he managed a $100MM+ technology portfolio, led enterprise data governance capability modernization, and operationalized AI and robotics capabilities at scale. 

Chris also served as the executive lead for BMO's Bank of the West data & analytics integration—the largest banking data conversion in Canadian history—where Chris led 500+ practitioners and over 300 successful project deliveries, earning industry recognition (2024 Celent Model Bank Award).

Chris is known for his ability to connect business strategy with data-driven execution, partnering across lines of business, technology, and compliance to drive innovation, operational excellence, and regulatory readiness. 

He holds a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Toronto and lives in Bloor West Village with his family. Beyond his professional work, he is an avid supporter of his son’s soccer team and enjoys discovering new culinary experiences across Toronto.